Rhône vintage suffers from climate change

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Vineyard overlooking the village of Cornas in the Rhône valleyGetty Images

Jane MacQuitty

Published at 12:01AM, March 22 2014

The 2012 rhônes are middling, with more oomph and fruit than the 2011s, but less acidity and hence less staying power

Is there any compelling reason you should buy the 2012 rhône vintage now, while it is mostly still maturing in cask? Not really. Forget the glowing reports and early en primeur offers, 2012 has produced a good, not great, medium-weight, medium-distance rhône vintage. Admittedly, it has got more oomph, colour, velvety tannins and vibrant fruit than the lighter 2011s but less acidity too, so the wines have less staying power. Fortunately, there are some plums to pull out of the 2012 rhône pudding (read on) but overall, with the equally good but not great 2013 crop waiting in the wings,